Deleting Mechanical Fuel Pump

[RustRocket]

Hi all, I've been debating with myself about putting the cheap Edelbrock 4bbl intake on my 231. I don't think it's compatible with a Q-Jet. but that's a problem for another day. I was wondering about replacing the old mechanical fuel pump with an in-line electric one that takes it's place. If I do decide to do this, what do I do with the big hole in the side of my motor? Is there some sort of specialized plate that bolts on and covers the hole? Are there any cheap and easy ways that you've done in the past? Any information is great, thanks

 

[ssn696]

I'm not sure what the 3.8 hole looks like, but you can find block-off plates for SBC in all the catalogs. Worst-case - trace out and fab one with a bit of sheetmetal, jigsaw, file, dremel, etc.

 

[RustRocket]

That's what I was thinking I might do, build out of the sheetmetal I have lying around and make a little cardboard or rubber gasket for it

 

[ssn696]

You can buy roll gasket material at the parts store.

 

[Yav8]

Or you could just leave it their and by pass it with your new pump.

 

[RustRocket]

Yeah, but that would seriously bother me. I'm one for symmetry and no redundancy, If I can delete something and never have to see it again, I'll do just that

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Why make a gasket? You could just use a fuel pump gasket. 😉

 

[Yav8]

Then its a home made plate and gasket.

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Intank fuel pump for a TBI car would be better than a inline pump. There are Qjet intakes for 231s along with special 231 calibrated Qjets. They have side inlets like Chevy Qjets which is unusually for BOP motors.

I did the 4bbl swap on my 231 and it was not worth it. The N/A 231 was built to be a cheap dog to force people to spend more on better powertrain options. It is a old marketing trick to make the basic package really lame so customers are forced to go to a higher cost package to get a decent product, (an example, basic cable). Save your money for a V8 or turbo V6 swap.

 

[RustRocket]

I want an inline pump because I don't have the time, money, patience, or knowledge to use an intank electronic pump. I'm not going to "build" this car at all, and 90% of the internals have been replaced already and there's less than 36k on that rebuild, so no motor swaps or forced induction for me. I need to replace the carb and distributer anyway, since the computer was removed and it runs like total crap. I figured I'd go with a cheap 4bbl setup just to improve drive-ability and to take the weight off my mind, since the way this thing runs really really bothers me